Led by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Congress continued to mount pressure on the Government to take action against “derogatory” remarks made by Union Minister VK Singh while commenting on the death of two Dalit children in Haryana recently.

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi, along with party MPs, protested near Mahatama Gandhi’s statue in Parliament House complex, carrying placards and shouting slogans, such as “Remove V K Singh”.

Last week, the principal Opposition party had created a ruckus in both Houses, seeking the Centre’s action against the Minister remark after Dalit children were burnt to death in Faridabad. Singh, who is a former Army chief, had invited widespread flak for terming the incident as “local”, adding that “even if a stone is thrown at a dog, the Centre is held responsible.”

“The person who speaks against Dalits has no right to continue as a Minister. He must be terminated from the position and the prime minister must take a decision to remove him,” said Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha.

In the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge tried to rasie the issue of his comments on the incident being expunged during the reecord of the proceedings, but was disallowed by the Lok Sabha Speaker to speak, as he had not given any notice.

The Rahul Gandhi-led protest comes at a time when the Centre is trying its best to soothe frayed Opposition nerves to get the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill passed which, along with six other Bills, has been listed in Rajya Sabha this week.

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